Interim superintendent focuses on transition

Leavenworth's interim superintendent said he's focused on facilitating a smooth transition for the school district.

John Richmeier

Leavenworth's interim superintendent said he's focused on facilitating a smooth transition for the school district.

"We're going to do everything we can to move forward with this transition," Bret Church said.

In his fourth year the school district, Church finds himself the interim superintendent after the Leavenworth Board of Education voted Wednesday to accept the resignation of Superintendent Kelly Crane. No reason has been given for Crane's resignation.

School board President Nancy Klemp said board members will decide later this month if Church will be asked to continue to serve as interim superintendent for the rest of the school year.

Church, 37, is in his fourth year with the Leavenworth public schools. He started with the district in 2010 as an assistant superintendent.

"This is a community that cares deeply about education and the students," he said.

He said the district has a lot of challenges in front of it. He wants to work with the school board to address priorities for the district in an effective way.

Church said he feels his "job is to ensure that we provide the highest level of education for kids."

He said everyone in the district is pulling together and ensuring that students are provided positive learning experiences.

Originally from Lyons, Church spent five years teaching social studies in Olathe. He worked another five years in the De Soto district as the director of teaching and learning. He also worked one year in in the Turner school system as an associate principal.

Church said his father was a superintendent, and his mother was a teacher. His wife is a teacher, and he has other family members who work in education. He said the education field "is kind of a family business."

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